Update 8/13/20. Thrive W (also called “Thrive For Women”) is a supplement touted to have multiple benefits ranging from weight loss to supporting muscle growth. Judging from all the emails I’ve been getting lately, Le-Vel supplements have been generating a lot of interest on the internet. This review will be specifically about “Thrive W” (not to be confused with Thrive M, the men's supplement). In this review, you'll learn about the research ingredients and side potential side effects. Does it really work? Let's see.
Other Thrive Reviews
Thrive W Benefits
According to the description of the product, Thrive W is touted to help with these areas:
- Weight management
- Cognitive performance
- Joint support
- Inflammation support
- Lean muscle support
- Digestive and immune support
It’s also said to contain an “anti-aging and antioxidant blend” of ingredients as well. There are a lot of ingredients in Thrive For Women. During this review, I’ll try to isolate which ingredients might be responsible for each of these claims.
Thrive W Research
The Le-Vel website states this about Thrive W: “From years of experience, science, and perfecting, THRIVE W is the only premium lifestyle capsule of its kind.” The words science and perfecting got my attention because it gave me the impression that years of research went into the creation and perfection of this supplement. But, when I searched online for:
- Thrive W research
- Le-Vel research
No clinical research could be located.
Searching clinical databases for:
- Thrive supplements
- Le-Vel supplements
- Thrive W
revealed no clinical studies either. Likewise, I saw no such clinical trials on the Le-vel website either.
If Thrive W has clinical evidence to support its effectiveness, that research could not be located.
But what about its ingredients?
Let’s now look at the Thrive W ingredients next.
Thrive W Ingredients List
According to the label, 1 capsule contains the following ingredients and it’s recommended to take 1-2 capsules per day on an empty stomach or between meals:
| Amount per serving | Percent daily value | |
| Vitamin A | 1500 IU | 30% |
| Vitamin B1 | 1.4 mg | 100% |
| Vitamin B2 | 1.7 mg | 100% |
| Vitamin B3 (niacinamide) | 12 mg | 60% |
| Vitamin B5 | 10 mg | 100% |
| Vitamin B6 | 2 mg | 100% |
| Folic acid | 800 mcg | 200% |
| Vitamin B12 | 100 mcg | 1667% |
| Vitamin D3 | 200 IU | 50% |
| Chromium (chromium AAC) | 200 mcg | 167% |
| Selenium (selenium AAC) | 90 mcg | 125% |
| Vanadium (vanadium AAC) | 25 mcg | N/A |
Thrive W Proprietary Blend
Each 1 capsule also has 257 mg of a proprietary blend containing the following ingredients:
| B. lactis | L. acidophilus | L. casei | L. helviticus |
| L. salvarius | L. plantarum | L. rhamnosus | Guarana |
| Green tea | Glucosamine | White willow extract | Glutamine |
| Green coffee bean | PEA | Kelp | Irvinga extract |
| BCAA blend | Theobromine | Ginger extract | Synephrine |
| Aspartic acid | L serine | Grape seed extract | Co Q10 |
| White tea extract |
Read this table from left to right. This will tell you which ingredients are present the most and least. For example, since B. lactis is listed first, it makes up most of the proprietary blend, while white tea extract makes up the last since it's listed last.
Other ingredients
The product also contains Stearic acid, silica, and gelatin. These other ingredients play no role in the effects or benefits of this supplement.
Thrive W Ingredients Review
Now let’s review each of the ingredients. There is not an overabundance of most of the vitamins or minerals in the product. I don't feel they add the benefits of the product and so I won’t discuss them, except to mention a few briefly.
Niacinamide
This is a form of the B vitamin, niacin. Niacinamide is different than niacin in that it won’t cause face flushing some report with niacin. This may be one of the ingredients behind the claim of “joint support.” There have been some studies on niacinamide noting it may help osteoarthritis pain. But, those studies generally use about 3 grams a day to achieve this effect. This is more than is in Thrive W (which has just 12 milligrams).
Among the ingredients, you may have noticed chromium, selenium, and vanadium are listed as:
- Chromium AAC
- Selenium AAC
- Vanadium AAC
The “AAC” refers to “amino acid chelate.” Basically, this means the minerals have been bonded to amino acids to improve their absorption. Whether or not this makes a significant difference is debatable. See the review of chromium weight loss research for more insights.
Proprietary Blend Ingredients
There are 25 ingredients in the proprietary blend. Each 1 capsule contains 527 mg total of all the 25 ingredients listed.
| B. lactis | L. acidophilus | L. casei | L. helviticus |
| L. salvarius | L. plantarum | L. rhamnosus | Guarana |
| Green tea | Glucosamine | White willow extract | Glutamine |
| Green coffee bean | PEA | Kelp | Irvinga extract |
| BCAA blend | Theobromine | Ginger extract | Synephrine |
| Aspartic acid | L serine | Grape seed extract | Co Q10 |
| White tea extract |
Supplement companies don't have to tell us how much of each ingredient is in proprietary blends. That said, remember the ingredients listed first are the most abundant, while ingredients toward the end of the list are the least abundant. For example, from the table above, the supplement has the most B. lactis (because it's listed first) and the least white tea extract (because it's listed last).
Probiotics Ingredients
Thrive W contains the following probiotic bacteria:
- B. lactis (the B stands for bacillus)
- L. acidophilus (the L stands for lactobacillus )
- L. caseri
- L. helviticus
- L. salvarius
- L. plantarum
- L. rhamnosus
In this list, the letters (“B” and “L”) represent the genus of the bacteria and the name (lactis, for example) represents the species of the bacteria used.
Different strains of bacteria might have different effects. One strain might do something great while another strain might do nothing at all. Without knowing the strain, it's not possible to know their exact function although it's possible they might be present for:
- Immune support
- Digestive support
- Weight management (maybe)
Probiotics are often added to supplements as a way to alter the microbiome – those bacteria that live inside of us. We now know gut bacteria can have big effects on our health. There are good bacteria and bad bacteria.
One question, however, is which bacteria are good and which are bad. There are a lot of bacteria in Thrive W but it's a lot less than the thousands of types that are inside of you.
When it comes to gut health, diversity is good. The more different types of bacteria we have inside of us, the better. Two ways that seem to alter gut bacteria is eating more fiber and exercise.
Here are 5 things that are bad for your gut health:
Thrive Premium Lifestyle Mix also contains probiotics. See that review for more info.
Guarana
This is a plant that contains caffeine. Is Le-Vel using the whole plant or an extract of the plant? They don’t tell us. If it’s an extract, then my guess is caffeine might be the extract used. If I am right, I can’t say how much caffeine is in the supplement. Can any Thrive promoters shed light on this?
See the Thrive Shake review for more insights on that supplement.
Green Tea
Green tea contains some caffeine (unless it's decaffeinated) so it’s possible this ingredient might also contribute to the stimulant effects of Thrive W. Green tea also has lots of antioxidants and so this may part of the “antioxidant blend” in the supplement too.
Green tea has been in several weight loss supplements I've reviewed previously but I don't believe it helps people lose weight. As proof, this study, found green tea supplements did not help people lose weight or raise their metabolism even after using it for 3 months.
As an aside, I personally wish companies would remove green tea from supplements. Drink the tea but leave the green tea supplements alone until we know more about their safety.
See the Supplements & Liver failure review.
Glucosamine
Since glucosamine is often used to help reduce arthritis pain, this likely is one of the ingredients responsible for the “Joint support” benefit in the product.
As mentioned in the review of glucosamine, there are 3 different types in supplements:
- Glucosamine sulfate
- Glucosamine HCL
- NAG (N-acetyl-glucosamine)
What type of glucosamine does Thrive W contain?
They don’t tell us.
The label only says “glucosamine.” I believe the strongest evidence is for glucosamine sulfate. Most studies showing it helps arthritis use 1500 mg per day. Remember, all the ingredients in 1 capsule of Thrive W only add up to just 527 mg.
Could the glucosamine combine with the other ingredients in the product to help arthritis pain? It's possible.
White Willow Bark
White willow bark contains an aspirin-like compound called salicylic acid. Some OTC pain relievers contain a combination of aspirin and caffeine. If people notice having less pain after using Thrive For Women, I think white willow bark might play a role in this.
Glutamine
This is an amino acid and is likely one of the ingredients behind the claim of “lean muscle support.” The body can make glutamine and this is why it’s also called a non-essential amino acid. That said, under stressful conditions or disease, we may not make enough. It’s for this reason glutamine is sometimes called a “conditionally essential amino acid.”
In other words, under some conditions, we need more than what we can make naturally. Because exercise is a stress, some feel glutamine can help support muscle growth, although not all research shows it works.
I covered some of the research on glutamine in a previous post so see that for more information.
While they don’t tell us how much glutamine is in Thrive W, I don’t think it's much, because all the ingredients only amount to 572 mg in 1 capsule.
Taking 2 capsules a day, would likely provide less than 1 gram of glutamine. That is less than many studies have used.
Green Coffee Bean
This supplement, also called Chlorogenic acid, is popular in weight loss supplements. I’ve written an entire in-depth review on the weight loss research of green coffee extract so see that too.
I feel green coffee bean needs better research. I believe this because one of the best studies on this compound was retracted after the authors admitted they could not verify the data used in the study.
This greatly reduces the believably of the hype surrounding this stuff. Green coffee extract is listed #13 in the ingredients list, so it doesn’t have much of it.
Green coffee bean is also in the Thrive Patch so see that review too.
Also, see the review of bogus weight-loss supplements.
PEA
The letters PEA are short for Phenylethylamine (Fee-nil-ethyl-A-mean), a type of amino acid. This ingredient might be linked to the “cognitive performance” claim made for Thirve W. Some interesting research suggests PEA might increase dopamine levels. This means it may be able to alter mood. It might help depression too. Exercise appears to naturally raise PEA levels.
PEA is also a stimulant which, according to WebMD.com “looks” like amphetamines.
Kelp
My hunch is kelp is in Thrive W because it contains iodine, a mineral needed to make thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormone raises metabolism. This is why kelp is sometimes found in weight loss supplements.
Other weight loss supplements I’ve looked at which contained iodine include:
See those other reviews for additional information.
Irvingia Extract
This is also called African Mango. As mentioned in my review of African Mango, there are some human studies on this compound. As far as I can tell, the best evidence appears to stem from the use of an extract called “IGOB131.” What extract of Irvingia is in Thrive W? I don't know.
Even if it contains the IGOB131 extract, how much does it have? They don’t tell us that either, but it is # 16 in the ingredients list, so my guess is not much.
See the MBS 360 review for another African Mango-containing supplement.
BCAA Blend
The letters BCAA stands for Branch Chain Amino Acid. There are 3 of these amino acids:
- Leucine
- Isoleucine
- Valine
Thrive W contains a “BCAA Blend.” My guess is the blend is a mixture of all three amino acids. BCAA's also popular in muscle building supplements so I believe they are linked to the “lean muscle support” claim. Regardless, given how far down in the ingredients list they are, I believe you’d probably get more BCAAs in a can of tuna fish than in Thrive W.
Theobromine
Theobromine is one of the compounds in the cacao plant which is where we get chocolate from. Theobromine is a stimulant and a diuretic (makes you pee more). For more on this ingredient, see my reviews of:
Ginger Extract
Since they don’t tell us what extract of ginger they are using, it’s hard to figure out what it’s supposed to do in the product. Maybe it's supposed to be anti-inflammatory? Does anybody know?
Synephrine
This is a stimulant. In supplements, it goes by several names including bitter orange and citrus Aurantium. In my review of the weight loss supplement called PhenTabz, it was called octopamine. Because it chemically “looks” like ephedra, it may be found in supplements claiming to be “ephedra-free.” Some of the supplements containing synephrine I’ve looked at previously include:
Synephrine can raise heart rate and blood pressure and has been associated with some serious side effects including heart attacks in even healthy people. As such, I’m not a fan of it in supplements.
For what it's worth, I don’t think there is much synephrine in Thrive W because it's pretty far down in the ingredients list. That's good. What's bad is its presence.
Aspartic Acid and Serine
These are non-essential amino acids. We make both aspartic acid and serine every day. What role do they play in Thrive W, I can’t say.
Grape Seed Extract
The scientific name for grape seed is Vitis vinifera. While they don’t tell us what extract of grape they are using, my guess this ingredient is for “inflammation support” given that grape product (like grape juice and grape seed oil) might reduce inflammation in the blood vessels.
CoQ10
Coenzyme Q10, also called CoQ10 or Ubiquinone is found in just about every cell of the body. It helps our cells make energy, and as we age, we make less of it. There are many studies on CoQ10 which hint it might have multiple effects in the body such as helping lower cholesterol levels, migraine headaches, and blood pressure among other things.
While all this is nice, does the product have enough CoQ10 to be therapeutically helpful? I don't know. Most studies generally use at least 100 mg. Remember the entire proprietary blend in Thrive W only has 527 mg. There are 25 ingredients in the proprietary blend and of those, CoQ10 is listed 24th.
White Tea Extract
Even though they call it white tea, this stuff is similar to green tea in its anti-oxidant power. While that's good, I have to ask what extract of white tea are they using? They don’t tell us.
White tea does have some caffeine so could this be the extract? While tea is the last ingredient listed in the proprietary blend so if it is, I don’t think there is much present.
Stimulant Ingredients
Here they are the stimulant ingredients:
- Guarana
- Green tea
- PEA
- Theobromine
- Synephrine
- White tea (maybe)
Ingredients are listed in order as they appear in the proprietary blend to give an idea of which might be present the most and least.
Where To Buy Thrive W
Thrive supplements cannot be purchased at Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, Target, Rite Aid, Costco, Sams Club GNC, Vitamin Shoppe or other stores like that. Rather, they can only be purchased directly from Thrive promoters. You can also go to the Le-Vel.com website and purchase them too although you'll be asked to provide the name of the promoter who referred you.
I liked this as it means the company is not in competition with those who sell their supplements.
How Much Caffeine?
Those sensitive to caffeine may wonder how much caffeine is in this supplement. They don't really tell us. In the comments section below, you will see a Thrive Brand distributor state Thrive W has 40 mg of caffeine while Thrive M has 50 mg.
She also said that Thrive Lifestyle Mix has 25 mg and that the Thrive Patch does not have any caffeine. While this is nice, I'd like to see a document that states this. Remember, several ingredients in this product contain caffeine. Also, caffeine is not the only stimulant in the Thrive W.
Thrive W And Thrive DFT Patch: Better Together?
As I was told, thrive W is part of a lifestyle program that incorporates the use of a weight management patch called the “DFT Patch.
While it's possible both work best together to promote a greater effect, at this time, I'm unable to locate any clinical proof to substantiate this.
Thrive W vs. Thrive M
While this review is mostly about Thrive W, there is also a men's version, called Thrive M. How are they different? The table below shows how they compare to each other:
| Thrive W (1 capsule) | Thrive M (1 capsule) |
|---|---|
| Vitamin A 1500 IU (30%DV) | Vitamin A 1500 IU (30%DV) |
| Vitamin B1 1.4 mg (100% DV) | Vitamin B1 1.4 mg (100% DV) |
| Vitamin B2 1.7 mg (100% DV) | Vitamin B2 1.7 mg (100% DV) |
| Vitamin B3 12 mg (60% DV) | Vitamin B3 12 mg (60% DV) |
| Vitamin B5 2 mg (100% DV) | Vitamin B5 10 mg (100% DV) |
| Vitamin B6 2 mg (100% DV) | Vitamin B6 2 mg (100% DV) |
| Folic acid 800 mcg (200% DV) | Folic acid 800 mcg (200% DV) |
| Vitamin B12 100 mcg (1667% DV) | Vitamin B12 100 mcg (1667% DV) |
| Vitamin D3 200 IU (50% DV) | Vitamin D3 200 IU (50% DV) |
| Chromium 200 mcg (50% DV) | Chromium 200 mcg (50% DV) |
| Selenium 90 mcg (125% DV) | Selenium 90 mcg (125% DV) |
| Vanadium 25 mcg (N/A) | Vanadium 25 mcg (N/A) |
| Proprietary Blend 527 mg consisting of the following | Proprietary Blend 526 mg consisting of the following |
| B lactis | B lactis |
| L. acidophilus | L. acidophilus |
| L. casei | L. casei |
| L. helveticus | L. helveticus |
| L. salivarius | L. salivarius |
| L. plantarum | L. plantarum |
| L. rhamnosus | L. rhamnosus |
| Guarana caffeine | Guarana caffeine |
| Green tea caffeine | Green tea caffeine |
| Glucosamine | Glucosamine |
| White Willow extract | White Willow extract |
| Glutamine | Green coffee bean |
| Green Coffee Bean | PEA |
| PEA | Irvinga extract |
| Kelp | Theobromine |
| Irvingia Extract | Ginger extract |
| BCAA blend | Citrus Aurantium extract |
| Theobromine | Glutamine |
| Ginger extract | L arginine |
| Citrus Aurantium extract | Grape seed extract |
| Aspartic acid | BCAA blend |
| L Serine | CoQ10 |
| Grape seed extract | Kelp |
| CoQ10 | White tea extract |
| White tea extract |
In the table, “NA” means no daily value established. mg = milligrams and mcg = micrograms.
If you scroll down the ingredients, you see both Thrive W and Thrive M are pretty similar all the way down to the white willow ingredient. After that, the ingredients shift their positions a bit.
Thrive W contains the amino acids aspartic acid and serine. These are not present in Thrive M. Instead, thrive M contains the amino acid called arginine. It's speculation, but this might be because arginine helps produce nitric oxide. Nitric oxide plays a role in erections.
See the Super Beets review for more on nitric oxide.
The amounts in the proprietary blends are a little different – 526mg in Thrive M and 527 mg in Thrive W. I dont think this is significant.
Who Makes Thrive Supplements?
Thrive supplements are a product of a company called Le-Vel LLC. Another name for the company is “Le-Vel Brands LLC.” The listed address for the company is 9201 Warren Pkwy #200, Frisco, TX 75035. If you Google this address, you can see it's the same address as a company called “Going Postal” which is a post-office-like facility. The “#200” in the address may be the Going Postal “PO Box” number.
This is the same address as was reported to the Better Business Bureau.
To contact Le-Vel, the BBB lists this phone number: 888-557-0005.
The BBB indicates the Le-Vel business was created in 2013. The company website (Le-Vel.com) was registered in 2012. Le-Vel is a “cloud-based” company. In other words, there doesn’t appear to be an actual/physical building called “Le-Vel” where the supplements are made.
Here is BBB file Le-Vel LLC. The company had an A+ rating when this review was updated. See the BBB file for ratings and more information.
SiteJabber, a consumer website also has several reviews on Le-Vel. Here is the SiteJabber file. Interestingly, while many of the reviews left there said the same thing – “life-changing” what are the odds of different people using the same words? The problem with testimonials is we have no way of verifying them.
Thrive W Side Effects
Does Thrive W have any side effects? Here are some thoughts I had based on the ingredients. This list is not complete:
- Stop taking Thrive W at least 2 weeks before surgery.
- Don't take Thrive W if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
- If you take any medications such as those used to treat kidney or liver problems or high blood pressure or heart disease, show the ingredients to your doctor or pharmacist. In theory, some of the ingredients might interact with medications.
- In theory, glucosamine might raise blood sugar in diabetics.
Green tea-containing supplements have been linked to liver problems –including liver failure. While I think this a very rare occurrence and I don’t believe this product has a lot of green tea, If you have liver issues, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
Here are some of the concerns/complaints people expressed in the comments section below. I'll be honest, some of these left below by people who've taken Thrive supplements have me uneasy. Here are some excerpts of the side effects people reported in the comments section below:
- I took it only five days and I also have high blood pressure and I felt like I had a heavyweight on my chest.
- I EXPERIENCED a stiff neck then a sick headache and I passed out. I stopped Thrive. been off of it for a wk. I feel better but my skin I jumpy at times.
- So I’ve been taking Thrive W for over a year now. When I don't take it I notice a loss of energy.
- My mind was racing, yet I felt too bad to do anything! I felt so sick from the caffeine overload! I never want to feel this way again!
- One thing I noticed is that Thrive makes me thirsty. I can’t get enough water.
- I was given a sample of Thrive, during a period when I was mourning the death of my sister. I just could not seem to pull myself out of a depressed state of mind. Thrive helped me with that, and did an excellent job of doing so.
- had a lot of energy , clear-headed, and my back pain went away as well as my migraine I have nearly every day. I felt somewhat jacked up, however , but at the end of the day it wasn’t so intense and I slept like a baby . But … I had heart palpitations before going to sleep.
Take these for what they are. Looking over the testimonials, many people do say they have more energy. I believe that's a testament to the stimulants in this supplement. Read the comments below to see what everybody else is saying.
Is Thrive Safe?
Because everyone is different it's not possible to say across the board anything is 100% “safe.” We all have differences. That said, it's good to keep in mind several of the ingredients in Thrive W are stimulants. While there is no clinical proof either way, for those who sensitive to stimulants or who are not “healthy,” in theory, this might be an issue.
Just a few conditions where stimulants might be a problem include breastfeeding, heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney problems, liver problems, diabetes or stroke risk.
To be clear, there is no proof Thrive W is a problem for any of these conditions. Again, each person is different. As with all dietary supplements, to know for sure, show the ingredients to your doctor and/or pharmacist for more individualized information on this topic. This is always wise for those who have health problems.
How To Return Thrive W
If you purchased supplements via a promoter, they should be able to help with returning products. Here is what I could gather from the company website.
According to the Terms and Conditions page of Le-Vel.com, unopened supplements come with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee minus a 10% restocking fee.
In other words, the company keeps 10% of the money spent to pay the cost for restocking the items.
Before returning items, people have to first contact the “Le-Vel Online Support Ticket System from within your account.” In other words, it appears you can’t do this over the phone.
Be sure to include the original packing slip or a printed copy of your receipt.
For supplements that are opened or partially used or damaged, the company will refund only 50% of the cost of the products.
Send the package to be returned to this address:
Le-Vel Returns
1545 S 4800 W
Salt Lake City, UT 84104
The return address, corresponded to “Pro Star Logistics.” This is a company that helps other companies with order fulfillment, packing, and warehousing. Their website is ProStarLogistics.com for those who wish to learn more about them.
While I’m sure Le-Vel promoters can help people with all of this, I feel the return process is overly complicated. I was also not satisfied with the company keeping a “restocking fee” on returned supplements.
Does Thrive W Realy Work?
Without clinical studies, it’s difficult to make a decision. On the surface, it would appear Thrive W has ingredients to support its claims but are the levels of those ingredients the same as used in clinical trials? I do believe some who take Thrive W will feel more energized and that's probably because several of the ingredients are stimulants like caffeine. As for weight loss? I think the results will vary.
Here it is on Amazon
Love this article. I must say, this thrive thing is different than what I expected. I “thrived” for 8 weeks and what I learned is that it’s basically legal speed. I felt great for sure but who doesn’t feel great on uppers? If someone is looking to lose weight then for sure thrive would be great, you never see an overweight speed junkie.
If you don’t need to lose weight and you are one of those thrivers that say “Thrive changed my life” well guess what, You’re a speed junkie LOL. You ever wonder why people want to do cocaine? Or why people get hooked on ephedrine? Well now you know. There is even an ingredient that is essentially ephedrine!
It’s sad but true and I was actually really excited about the product before I did my own research and “thrived” for 2 months. I stopped because I could tell it was basically speed… And I’m not the type of person that wants to be hooked on speed. Also I can not with a clear conscience suggest to any of my family or friends to become a thriver because behind the ridiculous Superman/Wonder Woman crap it’s just a bunch of people high on uppers.
They call it “premium nutrition”, yes it has nutritional things just as a multi vitamin does. But the “proprietary blend” is uppers and stimulants.
And the DFT patch is basically a Garcinia Cambodia patch. Do your research people. All of these uppers and stimulants are bad for the heart and cardiovascular system.
The company keeps everyone hooked by giving it for free if you get two people to sign up. Then they give you a car for getting more people to sign up and become “thrivers”. Would I like free speed? Shit yeah, but I’m not a junkie so no. Would I like a free car? Shit yeah, but I’m not gonna turn people I know into speed junkies so I can have that car.
And when you stop thriving, you get super sick like you’re going thru withdrawals. No joke. So how can that be “premium nutrition”? it’s all marketing tactics with this “lifestyle” “premium nutrition” “join the movement” crap.
Check your morals people, check your morals.
#dontbeaspeedzombie
A girlfriend got me on this, now I can’t get them out of my bank account, and the bank had me call that number that is listed here, and it’s a joke. Had to cancel my debit card, and file fraud against them to get my money back. I had canceled the auto refill they set you up, when you get on this stuff. But that don’t stop them. They took more money out to send me more powder.
I messaged them back from the email they sent saying my order is on the way. They sent me an email back saying they don’t a answer emails. No one to talk too. Only thing is my bank to get my money back. So frustrated with this company. Such a scam.
You should be able to talk to someone.
I love how canned these replies are. If you thrive promoters want to manipulate public opinion you should learn how not to talk like a robot politician doing an infomercial.
Thank you for your careful analysis and research (at least as much is possible) of the Thrive products related to this latest unnecessary nutritional supplement movement that is largely motivated by financial gain even though it can create dependency, even addiction, not to mention other health risks.
A year ago, I posted my concerns about the Thrive movement and the potential for addiction on Facebook, and was answered largely with vicious attacks from various promoters and customers although I did receive positive feedback from those who shared my concern. My only intent was to warn others of the danger in consuming a supplement full of stimulants.
Before expressing my alarm, I also did a thorough investigation of the contents of the Thrive products with the assistance of my spouse who is a board certified family physician and also holds a master’s degree in nutrition.
Now in our mid sixties, we have enjoyed a lifetime of “thriving” without the need for any nutritional supplement. We embraced a healthy lifestyle of sound nutrition (whole grains, fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, legumes, dairy, lean meats, limited processed & sugary foods, no soda) cardiovascular exercise (we run), weight training, outdoor activity – gardening, hiking, camping – adequate sleep, maintaining proper weight, and finding ways to help others.
We have never consumed alcohol, coffee, tea, or anything caffeinated. Six wonderful children blessed our lives who, with their spouses, have given us 12 amazing grandchildren, and we continue to thrive in every way!
My point in sharing this is to show that it is possible to thrive and live a fulfilling life without the need for any nutritional supplement. In the winter months, we do take Vitamin D – 1,000 IU (because the sunshine is harder to absorb), Vitamin C – 500 mg, and a multivitamin, also receive a flu shot.
We love to garden and raise our own fruit and vegetables, so summertime is plentiful with all the natural goodness from our produce, the sunshine, outdoor fresh air, and exercise. It is hoped that our experience, knowledge, and perspective will be helpful to those who read these comments.
Colleen, you are very welcome and it sounds like you have been blessed with an amazing life 🙂
You don’t believe in taking things unless your doctor prescribes them? Have you ever heard of Dr. Fardi Fata? Just curious.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/cancer-doctor-farid-fata-victims-unnecessary-chemo-whistleblower/
Mindy R, I dont think I ever said I didn’t believe anything unless prescribed by a doctor. I do feel though that people who have health issues should show the ingredients to their doctor and pharmacist (or registered dietitian if they have one). That’s because some supplements can interact with medications and various health issues.
I have heard about Dr. Fardi Fata. Have you heard of this:
http://consumerist.com/2015/10/19/supplement-company-owner-gets-30-months-in-prison-for-selling-diet-pills-containing-dangerous-ingredients/
I think we can both agree that people should be able to have faith in their doctors and supplement companies.
I’ve been using this product since October 2014. I never lost any weight. Over time, I have long since stopped using the patch. It had no effect on me except to leave an annoying glue ring on my skin. The shakes taste okay but it gets real tiresome to drink them everyday. I really do like the Thrive W because it helps get me going in the mornings.
However, I can’t take them both or i get too shaky and I can’t spread them out to take later in the day or I can’t sleep at night. One capsule a day, first thing in the morning is where I’ve found the best use for me. However, today, I got online to order more of Thrive W and the prices have really shot up sometime within the last 3 months.
I had quite a stockpile since I only take 1 a day now and haven’t ordered since November. It was $66 in November and now it’s $74. For a company that is making so much money, why the price hike? I will be searching for a replacement soon.
You really shouldn’t knock it until you’ve tried it! I am a customer, not a promoter, and I am having good results after just 1 week on it. If you follow instructions on exactly how to use the product (takes 20 minutes total in the a.m.) and give it the full 8 weeks, you will most likely see some results.
Everyone’s body is different. You are getting more crap in the everyday food you eat than the Thrive’s natural, gluten free non-gmo premium supplements. The reason the company is doing so incredibly well is because most everyone is seeing results – young, old, males, female, athletic and non-athletic.
If you do Thrive by itself, it works; if you do Thrive and modify your eating habits, it works better; if you Thrive and exercise AND modify your eating habits, it works great. If you are feeling unrested, lethargic and achy, and you have tried other methods, what do you have to lose? It works and you tell 2 friends, you get it for free! If it wasn’t working, the company would not have had $350 million in sales in 2015, been featured in Time’s Square, and had $10 Million in sales in just 7 days in January/2016.
Cindy, I dont think breaking down the product so people could understand it better knocking it. The Better Business Bureau might have though with their ” F ” rating on the company. Given how much you said the company was making, doesn’t that take you wonder whey they have not pumped some money into clinical research on their products? Either way, I’m glad you say its helping you and I hope it continues to do so.
You clearly did not research the fact that you are to use all 3 steps of the system. le-vel has an amazing support team to answer all questions. It is a cloud based business so no there is no building or person to call, that’s the point of a cloud based business.
It is not a good or drug so the studies you did not find are not required. If you go to Le-vels Facebook page you can read hundreds of thousands of reviews from real people who’s lives have been changed by the 3 step system, not just a single product.
Amber, thank you for sharing and for letting leaving your Le-vel link so we know you are an ambassador. I reviewed Thrive W because that is the specific product people asked me to look at. You are right, supplements do not need clinical studies on humans before they are marketed to the public. But, don’t you think you deserve them?
You say Thrive W is part of a 3 step system. Well, who came up with that? I mean did somebody, do research to show that Thrive W works best when combined with 2 other products as opposed to using just Thrive W itself? If yes, may I see that research.
Since you are an ambassador, maybe you can tell me where Thrive supplements are made? Since Le-Vel is a cloud based company, that leads me to think they dont make the products. Who do they outsource the making of the products to? Also I’m curious, what does an average Le-Vel ambassador make per month? I’m just curious.
People drink Colas and Coffee all day long. I doubt anyone in AMERICA is concerned about caffeine when Starbucks is getting filthy rich by the hour. So, the Caffeine is irrelevant when it comes to damaging any product as far as sales in my opinion.
So what is in that cures a hangover – I swear after a night out and too much wine 20 minutes after I take Thrive I feel sooooo much better. Just curious what ingredient(s) what cause that “benefit”
Tracye, While I cant know for sure, my guess is it might be the caffeine that is helping your hangover. Remember, every gram of alcohol has 7 calories. That’s a lot (for comparison, every gram of fat has 9 calories). I say this so you know that when you go out drinking, you are drinking lots of calories. Since you’re taking a weight loss supplement, I wanted to point that out.
Thank you for having this website! I have some friends who have been using/selling Thrive and it’s set me to wondering about this product. Must admit that I don’t believe in taking things unless my doctor prescribes it. Your review of this product has made me decide that my initial gut reaction is right!
Good eating habits and plain old exercise would accomplish the same results without the cost or finding out down the road that something in the Thrive product has caused you serious side effects!
I really wish people would realize that taking stuff like this, herbal products, weight loss products, etc is not wise; they are all medication in one form or another and not monitored by a doctor!
Valerie, you are very welcome. Please share my site with your friends.
I’ve been Thriving for 8 months with NO problems. In fact, my blood pressure is down, an eye inflammation that I’ve had for years is poof, gone AND I’ve dropped a pants size without even trying! I’m 58 yrs old & feel better than I have in YEARS! A lot of these comments say “good review” or “excellent review”. How do you figure that when the reviewer has never even used the product?
There are thousands of people using this product & absolutely love it. This “review” is obviously motivated by something else. Is Thrive for everyone, maybe not but it certainly is NOT what’s portrayed in this “review”. Anyone can go to the Facebook fan page & read thousands of testimonies from all sizes, ages & occupations of people who love what Thrive has done for them.
Cracks me up that the people who comment here are some of the same people who don’t look at labels on ANYTHING they put in their body but boy oh boy let there be a supplement NOT sold at Walmart & all of sudden it’s garbage.
Sorry but what’s at Walmart is garbage & Big Pharma has done a great job in convincing the sheep otherwise. BTW, my daughter is a nurse practitioner currently in her doctorate program…she Thrives & has tons of nurse friends who also Thrive.
Take the ingredient list to your doctor & if they aren’t beholden to Big Pharma they will tell you the ingredients might just do you some good!! I’ve been reading the nonsense on this site for a while & just couldn’t be silent any longer.
Go to GNC, Walmart or wherever & trust the pharmaceutical executive with shareholder interest & questionable science & data if you chose but STOP with the scare tactics.
Tami, thanks for sharing your thoughts on this topic. Since you mentioned me, I’ll say that I have no ax to grind and no agenda, other than to help give people an unbiased look at products. I don’t have to take something to review it.
Tami, just curious, are you a brand ambassador for the product? I ask because I looked you up and discovered that last year, someone with your email address purchased website name that contains the name “thrive.” When I went to that website, it redirected me to Le Vel Thrive ambassador website.
Started day one on this today!! I was shaky and lightheaded for most of the day then got really tired and then my heart started to race and I got sweaty felt like I was gonna pass out! Had to pull my car over and lay down in The back seat till my heart rate came back down. (about 45 min ). now I’m cold and feel like crap. So I’ll never use this again ?
Hi Joe,
Thank you for your review! It’s hard to make determinations if you don’t know the quantities! If I may make a couple of comments related to posts of others. The “evil FDA” is not in bed with the pharma world. The reason Thrive hasn’t been “approved”, is because it was never presented for approval. If it had, it would have to go through a series a clinical trials, some of which documenting side effects, potential toxicity, safety and efficacy, drug to drug interactions, etc. by not making drug claims, remaining a “supplement”, it can bypass this expensive and lengthy process. Supplements bypass a lot of safety issues. It’s great that you are at least trying to review what you can!
I blindly and foolishly tried a sample pack. I was thrilled beyond belief. I had abounding energy and great mood. Yes, I saw it was filled with stimulants…I decided to put my training and logic aside. I must be losing brain cells in my 50s! I thought, It might help….I was about to order a few months more.
Yesterday I took nothing. I felt foggy and in the evening had irregular and rapid heart beats. It was creepy. I didn’t tie it to this, because I didn’t take Thrive yesterday. Today I read your post, AFTER taking my last sample. I’m feeling shaky inside and creepy again. I could kick myself for not using my brain! I’ll get through this and go back to basic supplements that have been properly vetted.
On a final note, I am a retired FDA agent. Hence my comments about training. I feel ashamed and foolish for trying this. I stepped out of the box. I’m going back in the box!!! My experience, cases, convictions in court, etc., has proven to me and the courts that the supplement industry is rife with unscrupulous clowns, particularly in the weight loss segment.
MANY of these companies claim certain ingredients that have multiple names. Many are ordered out of foreign countries. Many are not what they claim to be. I’ve seen some products claiming to use “bitter orange”, “Mormon tea”, or even common names like black tea when in fact they are importing and using ephedra or like stimulants. It’s a huge, money making industry.
If their product “works”, they grab all the money they can in sales until there are enough health complaints to ALMOST prompt an investigation. Then they close up shop, start another company that is difficult to find through their layered LLCs they form to hide identity of ownership, and start all over again.
I’m not saying at all that Thrive is doing anything like this. I’m merely saying that this behavior exists in the industry. I’m thankful that you are at least trying to evaluate what is there with your searches of testing and attempting to verify claims made by these companies.
I would hope that truly reputable companies would be completely transparent, so as to prove they are not making false claims or selling product that actually has an active pharmaceutical ingredients in it, and not disclosing such. Or selling product that has safety concerns. Thanks for what you do.
rockymtnlafrance thanks for sharing and I appreciate your unique insights too! Hopefully by the time you read this you are feeling like yourself again.
Cassandra, I find your response extremely condescending and frankly this is why so many people are leaving or have left the “Thrive Movement.” The aggression as well as the philosophy that you are less than if you aren’t thriving is cult-like if I am being honest.
To let you know, I was a rather successful promoter for many months and did not do my research in the beginning as I should have. There is absolutely NO proof that these ingredients are any more “pure” than any other. I would love some proof of this.
Also, did you know that a product only has to be 10% all natural to claim it is “all natural.” Also, if this product truly was all natural wouldn’t it say so on the actual boxes? Lastly, why is it that even Boost, which is supposedly a “whole food” product (according to “thrivers”) says “supplement facts” and not “nutrition facts.”
Legally if something is all natural and whole food you can put that right on the box in the form of “nutrition facts.” From my own research, Thrive is nothing more than a subpar vitamin and lots and lots of stimulants.
Don’t you find it odd that even the most avid caffeine drinkers can stop all caffeine the moment they start thrive and not suffer a single headache? This is not magic dear. It is because the stimulants are being replaced. I suffered from withdrawals from this “all natural” product for weeks after stopping it. WEEKS.
And guess what? I am happily thrive-free, my house is spic and span, my kids are happy and healthy, and I have plenty of ALL NATURAL energy to get me through 12 hours a week in the gym and parenting three kids. Normally, I would never be so rude to someone I don’t know, but your post just really grinded my gears 😉 Have a great one 🙂
Also Thrive does not contain anything banned by NCAA, many pro athletes use these products. And you do not have a personal Web page after receiving an order. You get a customer number which can be cancelled at any time. All you have to do, again, is hit the button. You are very misinformed.
Cassandra, can you briefly mention the names of some pro athletes using Thrive? Just curious. I was not aware of this. You mentioned no NCAA banned ingredients. Here is a list of NCAA banned ingredients:http://www.ncaa.org/2015-16-ncaa-banned-drugs
I see stimulants on this list- including synephrine which is in thrive W (unless they changed the formula?).
It clearly says in the packaging that the products have not yet been approved by the FDA. There is contact information and you can send a support ticket kettle which are usually answered within 30 minutes or so.
As far as the order that was placed, it most likely wasn’t an order. Either she made you a free customer account to browse without your knowledge or you provided it to help with one of the many promotions that we’ve done. All you have to do is click on the box at the bottom of the email and they will stop coming. ?
Furthermore, you shouldn’t knock products that you haven’t tried. Thrive is beyond phenomenal, it literally gave me my life back. Like many other things, it isn’t for everyone, but it DOES do its job. Not to mention it is purer and higher grade of each ingredient than you will EVER find in a local store.
And while you’re busy complaining about how tired you are and how you have no energy to do anything, I did my whole weeks to do list, cleaned my entire 3000+ Sq foot home top to bottom, organized my kids closets, cleaned out my car and meal prepped for a whole week in a SINGLE day. I highly suggest you even attempt to try something before you talk bad about it.
Sincerely,
Sassy and I know it,
Not afraid to show it.
Have a blessed day doll. ?
(Disclaimer: I am not employed by le-vel, I just use the products.)
Cassandra, my guess as to all the energy you had is due to the stimulants in the product.
Joe can you please do a review on Young Living Essential Oils?
Hi Trina, Ive heard of it and its on my list. Not sure when I’ll get to it but I will try. If this is really important, I do do consultations for those who dont want to wait for a formal review. Here’s the link for more on this: http://supplementclarity.com/consultations/
I’m a daily Thrive taker and it has changed my life for the better!! I am a recovering addict and had a hard time doing what I normal chores where in the day. since starting The Thrive Experience for about 8 weeks now and I feel GREAT and am getting my daily stuff done without the cravings of the drugs ar that I used to need to get up out of my bed daily, It makes me have a relationship with both of my kids, one is a 16yr old boy and a year old baby girl! Without the Thrive, I DO NOT THINK I WOULD FEEL AS GREAT AS I DO NOW!!
Thanks Brianna
Brianna, thanks for sharing and I am really happy for not only your getting off drugs but also for your renewed relationship with your children.
” IMO, because the corrupt FDA, who’s in bed with Big Pharma, hasn’t given their approval is a plus. ”
The FDA doesn’t approve *any* supplement. While the FDA is “Food and Drug”, the Department of Agriculture oversees food products, and supplements are not considered drugs rather they are considered food.
From the FDA page:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not have the authority to review dietary supplement products for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed.
http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm109760.htm